For 16 years, Maximus “Max” Aurelias Fichera was a constant presence in one Mahopac home.
He sat at his family’s feet.
He watched the kitchen counters carefully.
On hikes, he never strayed too far.
“He was the perfect dog for this family,” said his owner, Ida Fichera. “Active, protective, proud and friendly.”
As Max approached his 16th birthday in December, Fichera reached out hoping to honor what she knew was a remarkable milestone for a labradoodle. Friends, her groomer and even her veterinarian were surprised by his age. She was proud of how long he had lived — and of the life he had lived.
Max was born Dec. 22, 2009, and came from a private breeder in Westchester County who hoped to breed her female labradoodle for longevity. He lived his entire life in Mahopac.
From the start, he was impossible to tire out.
“We could not wear him out,” Fichera said. “We tried walking and running him, but it did no good. He was flying over my couch.”
When Max was 3, the family brought home Molly, a goldendoodle. They simply couldn’t keep up with his energy.
“The day we got Molly he took on the role of big brother and taught her everything — good and bad,” Fichera said.
The two grew up together with a big backyard to run in — something Fichera believes contributed most to his long life. Max was highly active and always had a younger dog around to play with. He was fed Purina PureBlends and never given food with coloring. He also grazed on insects in the yard — and, as she put it, “God knows what else.”
Max’s personality never really changed over the years. He simply slowed down.
He was stubborn and super friendly. He would not hurt a fly.
But he absolutely could not be trusted alone in the kitchen.
One day, he managed to open a bundt cake from ShopRite with rocky road topping, ate the top all the way around and left the rest behind.
“He especially likes a freshly made sandwich that is left unattended,” Fichera said.
Chocolate did not seem to bother him. Neither did nuts.
Still, the same dog who jumped on counters was deeply loyal on the trail.
“He would never stray too far and always look back to make sure I was okay,” she said. “If I called him, he would run to me.”
He did not like to snuggle but would sit at your feet. He loved to be petted. When grandchildren — now 5 and 3 — came along, he never flinched when hugged too hard. He always wanted to be part of whatever was going on.
In recent years, Max experienced slight hearing and vision loss. His mobility slowed. He could no longer climb stairs. His back legs grew weak.
But he still perked up for treats and pizza crust. He lived for crumbs that fell on the floor when company came over. He loved snow and enjoyed eating it. He also enjoyed drinking fresh rain.
Even as he aged, he remained Molly’s big brother. Molly, now 13, has had seizures since she was 5 and takes medication three times a day. Whenever she received her pill snack, Max got one too.
If there was only a little bit of food or water left in their bowls, he would not eat or drink and would save it for her — something Fichera said he did to the end.
“Sixteen to us means that we gave him the best possible life he could have,” she said just weeks before his passing. “That he still has a desire to live, even if it is only for the treats, and that he is a happy dog.”
On Jan. 11, just weeks after his 16th birthday, Max’s back legs finally gave out, and he died at home in Mahopac.
If she could say one thing to him, Fichera said, it would be simple:
“You are a great dog, Max, and we love you so much.”
